Jan Blachowicz announces withdrawal from Bogdan Guskov rematch

Jan Blachowicz has announced he is pulling out of his scheduled rematch with Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9th, citing a torn meniscus that will prevent him from competing at the event.

Blachowicz, 43, made the announcement himself, confirming the knee injury is the reason for his withdrawal. The Polish veteran holds a record of 29-11-2 and is ranked fifth in the light heavyweight division. Standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach, the former light heavyweight champion fights out of WCA Fight Team and has built his career on a measured striking game, landing 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy while also mixing in takedowns at a rate of 1.03 per 15 minutes.

Guskov, known as Czarevitch, now finds himself without an opponent less than three weeks out from the event. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan carries an 18-3-1 record and sits at number ten in the light heavyweight rankings. Fighting for GOR MMA, the six-foot-three contender is an aggressive striker who lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate, and also presents a submission threat with 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Blachowicz's withdrawal removes a high-profile European rivalry rematch from a pay-per-view card
• Guskov, ranked tenth, loses a potential win over a top-five opponent that could have significantly boosted his divisional standing
• The UFC is now searching for a replacement, leaving Guskov's May 9th future uncertain
• No recovery timeline has been disclosed for Blachowicz, raising questions about when the 43-year-old will return to action